Overview
General Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is implemented by recipients of DOT Federal Financial Assistance. Recipients are primarily state highway, transit, and airport agencies that receive funds subject to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 26 (49 CFR 26). A similar program (49 CFR 23) for airport concession DBEs (ACDBE), is mandated by 49 U.S.C. 47107(e). The DBE and ACDBE programs were most recently amended in 2024.
Federal Regulations
Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Essentials
- Archived FAA Airport Recipient Compliance Review Reports
- Contact DBE, Title VI or ADA staff
- FAA Civil Rights Connect System
- FAA Matchmaker - (DBE-ACDBE National UCP Directory)
- JPB Preliminary Injunction Affecting Disadvantaged Business Program Memo
- DBE Program Guidance and Best Practices
Prompt Payment
- FY2024 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
- FY2023 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
- 2022 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
- FY2022 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
- 2021 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
- FY2021 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
- 2020 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
- 2019 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
- Prompt Payment and Retainage Guidance
- Prompt Payment Section Sample Template
Small Business Program Element
- Small Business Program Element Announcements
- Guidance Small Business Element 7/15/2009
- Guidance Small Business Element 12/6/2011
Airport Disadvantaged Business Partners
- Airport Minority Advisory Council
- Airports Council International – North America
- American Association of Airport Executives
- Conference of Minority Transportation Officials
How to Become Certified as a DBE and/or ACDBE
In order to compete as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) for airport projects that are funded with Federal dollars, or for an airport concession opportunity, you must first be certified as a DBE under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations 49 CFR Part 26 and/or 49 CFR Part 23.
The Federal Government does not certify firms as DBEs. You must contact your home state's Unified Certification Program (UCP) to become certified. Your home state is the state where your firm's corporate headquarters is physically located, and is licensed to conduct business in that locality. There are a few states that do not have a UCP. In those cases, contact the airport that you are interested in doing business with.
For more information, please visit: State DOT and DBE program webpages.
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